The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-05-27

from which they obtain glimpse Of tombs
of kings, poets and philosophers. Not be-
ing satisfied with the traditional knowledge
Of those mythical sages they excavate their
tombs and entombed cities with a hope OF
perfecting a science which can be OF no
practical utility to the present generation,
except to crafty curious ambition. But
we do not propose to travel east to find
Salina, and 1t is not half so far as Rome,
Egypt or Palestine Besides there Is TO he
found on those western plains relics Of an
extinct species of animals much larger than
Jumbo. The three-fourths Of travellers in
America are in pursuit Of the advantages
and resources OF wealth, in which the
country abounds, and give little heed
whether the souls of the mythical gods live
in the stars or are buried in the earth with
the body, and think that the man who can
seein the features Of a monkey a semblence
of his original pregniture must have a con-
tracted idea of deity in establishing his re-
lationship. The people Of Salina do not
use profane Language, neither are they ad-
dicted to strong drink. They believe in
Salina and in female suffrage. They have
soil Of a most fertile quality, from two to
three feet deep, which appears to be made
of different strata or deposits Of different
periods. About two feet Of the surface is
vegetable soil, Immediately underneath
for nearly two feet mari containing mag
nesia, under which, for about two feet a
yellowish clay, apparently rich of soil, un-
der which is a dark or black vegetable loan,
then comes plastic blue clay. The stone
used in building seems to be red sand
stone and magnetism lime stone. The lat
ter is much used and gives fine and dura-
BILE appearance Brick are also used
which are of yellowsh appearance, con-
tanning little of iron barites, but hard ana
durable with smooth surface susceptible Of
paint. Salina lies sufficiently high for easy
drainage. The streets are wide and cross
at right angles, and are shaded principally
with cotton wood, maple and box elder in
great profusion. The houses are built of
brick, stone and wood, chiefly of Arkansas
pine, very excellent quality, built in
Queen Anne style and modern plans of
architecture and finish as can be seen in
our lareer cities.
Educational advantages are not surpassed
in any city OF its dimensions. The Meth
odist College, situated at the south terminal
of Santafee avenue, which avenue, being
the principal street of the city, is one hun
dred feet wide and two miles or more IN
erected an Episcopal Training College.
The two institutions are to be connected by
a street railway, part of which is already
in operation. The Normal University, situ-
ated at the west end of Iron avenue, which
street crosses Santafee at right angles,
which crossing is the centre Of business OF
the city. The schools of Salina are of first
grade and altogether amount to nearly half
million in value Of property. The
churches, score in number, Of various
denominations, are built tastefully and con-
venient. The Lutheran, in which heard a
sermon Of Sunday, reflects credit upon
the liturgy. There are many prominent
buildings-two, three and four stories
built OF brick and stone. Among them are
the Masonic Temple, Odd Fellows Hall,
Opera House, Court House and the several
hotels. The National Hotel Is designed
when completed to compete or surpass in
| elegance, TO have an elevator, steam heat
ing and all the modern conveniences. The
present hotel system is not adequate to the
public demand, neither does there seem to
be tenement houses enough In the whole
city did not see one vacant building Oh
room. The several banking houses, botl
national and private, having liberal capital
are in excellent repute and considered safe
for all business transactions. There are
three Touring mills, which have daily ca
pacity of fifteen thousand or more barrels
and there are many factories of various
kinds. The Smoky Hill River is narrow,
sluggish stream, very deep and sinuous
making about five miles for half nile IL
straight line Its banks are high ant
covered with abundant shade OF walnut
cotton wood and maple festooned with wilt
grape vines, which are being trained
around the trees to form seats and lounges
and to continue growing, a most desirable
resort on high day. The land surrounded
by the curvatures Of the river affords desir
able sites for residences, parks and boule
Yards, for which improvement IS being
rapidly made. The whole country Is no
one level plain, as many Eastern people
suppose, but is divided into valleys o
many miles in extent, of the finest farming
land in the world. The dividing ridges, a
seen from the cars, have an out cropping o
magnetism lime stone in layers of foo
or moro in thickness and easily quarried
This stone would indicate the underlying
of coal, but sometimes far removed
However, there are other evidences of tn
presence of coal, in fact, they have discov
cred coal, in thin layer, within fev
miles, which is an evidence OF create
abundance near. The people are chief
Anglo american and not OF the bavidai
nationaities as found in many other West
ern cities, Pennsylvania being largely req
IT resented, and all thrifty and prospering
was most sgreeably surprised by an inyita
ton to dine with Mr.. Thomas Ritter, who's
wife is the daughter Of Moses Wright, fol
merly OF Lightstreet, and former patrol
of mine. Mr.. Wright, with his son
Thomas, is now located ten miles south O
Salina. Their farms Join Mr.. Ritter's.
had the pleasure of visiting them and see
ing their fine stock. also dined with w
Sturdevant. His wife is the daughter c
Peter Shook, formerly of Lightstreet, ant
a former patron. Messrs. Ritter IL Sturde
want are in the hardware business in Salin
and have fine store. AS an evidence
the rapid speculations, several pieces
property were pointed out that had bee
bought and sold twice or thrice in as man
months, each time nearly doubling in price
Twenty acres, on the southeast border {
the town, were bought on the day arrive
and divided into lots so #. by 1876 IT, A
the close of the week the lots were nearl
all sold. The same week twenty acres o
the west border were purchased and ar
now on the market IN lots for sale. Ther
were quite a number OF transfers mad
during the week AS an instance, twent.